The Centenary Edition of the Works of Nathaniel Hawthorne

“Because it represents the first
scholarly effort to establish texts as close as possible to the intentions of
the author, this Centenary Edition makes obsolete all previous editions,
notorious for their textual corruption. An eminent staff . . . has analyzed and
synthesized the evidence of all MSS and worthwhile printed editions. Each volume
includes a well documented introduction concerning such matters as circumstances
leading to composition and history of publication as well as textual notes on
alterations in the MSS, editorial emendations, etc.” —Choice

“The
Centenary Edition, which has been producing weighty volumes of definitively
edited texts of Hawthorne for a full generation, is now the sine qua non
of Hawthorne scholarship. As an example of editorial care and research
thoroughness it has been a model for the profession and as a physical object a
model for publishers. In addition to the immensely important achievement of
producing fully accurate texts of the romances, tales, and sketches, the
Centenary editors have made available, for the very first time, all of the
various Notebooks and letters. For the letters, especially, the wait has been
long but the result is gratifying. Reading straight through the Centenary's six
volumes of letters is a self-indulgent pleasure that brings us markedly closer
to the man than we can get in any other way.” —American
Literature

Representing
decades of work, this is the definitive edition of Hawthorne’s works. Each
volume includes comprehensive notes and explanatory material.